Pre pubertal neutering of bitches

Canine Research Team

Introduction to the study

Current practice is for bitches to be neutered between 12 and 16 weeks after the end of their season

Neutering preferentially takes place prior to the bitches entering training as anecdotally, if surgery takes place during early training, it can put the bitch’s development back up to four weeks (pers comm Miller, 2010)

Health code searches revealed that 52 bitches were neutered during early training in 2009 and 84 bitches in 2010

In some cases the ‘spay window’ for some bitches encroaches on the time for commencing early training

For operational reasons, some bitches may need to be brought into training early, prior to having been neutered

Anecdotal evidence has suggested that the restriction around timing of neutering has prevented some bitches from commencing training at the optimum time, which negatively affects production targets (pers comm, Miller, 2010)

Introduction to the study (cont’d)

This problem could be eliminated by neutering bitches pre-pubertally

Further health code searches established that in 2009 and 2010 37 and 27 bitches respectively were neutered when they were over 13 months of age

Recent research suggests that pre-pubertal neutering is not associated with an increased incidence of health and behavioural problems (Reichler, 2009)

Pre-pubertal neutering is currently carried by Guide Dogs Victoria at five months of age, and also by Irish Guide Dogs and Guide Dogs NSW/ACT at six months of age. These centres do not have any data to suggest that pre-pubertal neutering has any detrimental effect on behaviour or health

Objective of the study

To determine whether the pre-pubertal neutering of bitches (at six months of age) is associated with any health or behavioural problems compared to bitches neutered 12 to 16 weeks after their first oestrus

To determine whether pre-pubertal neutering of bitches is associated with any differences in physical development compared to bitches neutered at 12 to 16 weeks post-oestrus

The design of the study

Long term six year study following 150 bitches neutered at six months of age and 150 bitches neutered as per normal practice

All bitches will be Lab x GRet, GRet x Lab or first generation crosses

All bitches will be neutered by centre vets

Puppies will be identified within three years of the study commencing

The design of the study (cont’d) Data collected:

– All bitches have a physical assessment by the centre vet at 6 months of age including height, weight, BCS and the physical appearance of the vulva

– All bitches have a physical assessment by the centre vet (or DCWA for withdrawn dogs) at 18 months of age including height, weight, BCS and the physical appearance of the vulva

– At the time of neutering the centre vets will complete a neutering questionnaire including duration of surgery and any post-op complications

– Two weeks post neutering the puppy walker will complete a questionnaire to monitor how the puppies recover after surgery

– Canine Research will examine CAS and health records for all puppies from six months of age onwards to monitor health, behaviour, weight and BCS

– Training times and final outcome will be recorded (qualified, withdrawn) as well as any incidences of early withdrawal up to three years post-qualification

– At three years of age a behavioural questionnaire will be completed by the carers of the dogs and vets may be contacted to obtain further health data

All data recorded will be analysed to determine if there are any differences between the two groups of dogs in physical development, health and behaviour. The statistical significance of any differences.

Recruiting puppies

Canine Research then email the PTS to confirm the puppy is on the study, the study group and the six month physical assessment (and neuter) window dates

Puppies should be suggested as suitable for the study by SPTS or PTS in each region

A minimum of100 puppies each year are required Puppy names and computer numbers are sent to Canine

Research who allocate the puppies to either the 6 month neuter or control group

What happens as the puppies approach six months of age? Puppies to be neutered at six

months should have a Kennel Cough vaccine one month before they come into centre kennels

Canine Research will send out the physical assessment forms for the bitch approximately one month before the assessment window

Canine Research will also send out neutering forms and recovery from neutering forms

Forms will be sent to PTS and DC supervisors or advisors as instructed

PTS / DC should pass the recovery forms to the walker

Puppies at neutering

Most puppies are taken to the GDTS the day before their spay on the vet visit day

They have their physical assessment which includes checking they are okay to be neutered

They either stay overnight in kennels and DC take them to the spay or go home with their walker and the walker takes them to the vets

The pups are okay to go home to their walker as soon after the surgery as the vet is happy

Three common scenarios are:– PW delivers pups direct to vets and collects in the afternoon after

surgery – Pup comes into kennels night before, taken to vets and returns to

kennels that night then goes home 24/48 hours after surgery– Pup stays in kennels for 10/14 days until stitches removed etc

Returning data to Canine Research

Completed forms can be emailed or posted back to Canine Research

Please don’t forget the recovery forms, they are very important!!!

Canine.research@guidedogs.org.uk

Canine Research, NBC, Banbury Road,Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, CV33 9WF.

An update on progress to date 54 puppies have been enrolled so far

– 30 to be neutered at 6 months and 24 to be neutered after their first season

11 puppies have been neutered at 6 months of age– Neutering forms have been received from vets for 9

bitches– Neutering questionnaires indicated that

• surgery length was between 12 and 25 minutes• There were no complications during the surgery,

with anaesthetic or post operative complications reported

An update on progress to date

“We think it worked very well and the wound

healed very quickly”

4 bitches were reported to experience some discomfort for 1-2 days post spay, 2 paid a lot of attention to the wound area for <1 day or 3 to 4 days, no bitches had discharge from the wound and no bitches had complications which required veterinary treatment and six bitches had returned to their normal selves after between 1 and 2 days

- Recovery from neutering forms have been received for 8 bitches